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Oh My: George Takei Defuses Controversy Over Facebook ‘Ghostwriter’

“What is this hoo-ha about my Facebook posts?” That was the very George Takei-like answer from George Takei to the mini-controversy over reports earlier this week that TV writer Rick Polito was behind some of the posts on the former “Star Trek” star’s ultra-popular Facebook page.

“What is this hoo-ha about my Facebook posts?” That was the very George Takei-like answer from George Takei to the mini-controversy over reports earlier this week that TV writer Rick Polito was behind some of the posts on the former “Star Trek” star’s ultra-popular Facebook page.

Even at $10 per joke, it still feels like a validation to see so many people reacting to my humor. I have written jokes that got 10 likes per second for hours. The power of George is unbelievable. His fans are a viral army. He may not be a stockholder, but he ownsFacebook.

After the revelation that not all of the posts on Takei’s Facebook page were coming from Takei himself, and an eruption of comments on the subject, Takei wrote in an email to Wired, from, of all places, a “Star Trek” convention in Boston:

What is this hoo-ha about my Facebook posts? I have Brad, my husband, to help me, and interns to assist. What is important is the reliability of my posts being there to greet my fans with a smile or a giggle every morning. That’s how we keep on growing.

The commentaries are mine. They are authentically mine, I assure you.

And Polito told Romenesko:

I wrote an apology to George and Brad, and their guy said he’d pass it on. I just said that I’d been looking for any mention of my book I could get, and that I hadn’t meant to expose anything.

I don’t update his page. I’ve had no direct contact with George. I’ve sent him some memes, as have other comedian types, and I was happy for the exposure.

Readers: Does it surprise you that not all posts on Takei’s page are coming from Takei himself?